MONETARY AND COMMERCIAL. Daily Southern Cross Office, Friday evening.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4408, 30 September 1871, Page 2

MONET AR Y AND COMMERCIAL. Daily Southern Cro ss Office, Friday evening.

Bii3ines3 during the past week has been rather dull. The trade sales Avere confined almost wholly to auctions of soft goods. The large sales that have recently taken place have tolerably supplied the trade for immediate requirements, and any forced sales made afc present are consequently effected only at a sacrifice. Thy snip ' (Jouutess of Kin tore' has arrived with a Jargo general cargo, which will meet any deficiency m grocery stocks previously existing. The quantity and value of cirgo hav^o already been published, so that it is unneccsary to recapitulate the particulars. The ' Alice Cameron 'arrived from Sydney on Wednesday, bufc her cargo comprised very few parcels of groceries. The loading items of merchandise were 100 casks of cement, which has boon much sought after lately for use in the construction of concrete buildings ; 100 kegs of powder, 10 cages sardines, 90 gunnies sugar, and 6 kegs curtauts. The ship 'Excelsior' cleared for London, with a cargo valued at 83,403/. IS3. This includes 54,900*. worth of gold and 5,C00/. worth of silver; kauri gum s the next export of importance, bein^ shipped to the value of 17.745 J. ; thirteen tons of butter, valued at 780 J., ( was i also shipped. The cargo is altogether one creditable to the port. Two vessels, the 1 Ltetitia' and the * Kenilworth,' left for Fiji duriug the week, and their manifests ehojv that a not inconsiderable amount of trade still exists between Auckland and those islands, which only requires fostering to increase materially in its proportions. The chief items of local produce shipped were 12,000 feet, timber aid 40,000 -shingles' by the ' Lzetitia.' Tin unsettled state of the breadstuffs market has been a matter of much, comment. The downward tendency was caused in a great measure by lbs course which has 4 b£en folldwed i 'by ' Adelaide farmers, who stored, an excessive surplus of wheat from the last crop. Prices were maintained in Adelaide for a. long period,^ ' notwithstanding the heavy stock*/ and the" necessity for clearing before the new^orop comes forward has caused a' sudden fall in, price. Wo hear that a movement' ia on foot " am,ongfi ,tbe Adelaide dealers ta r export a .large, quantity to, l&glaiidV, ',Tbi% cour£e,;if • carried out, would Relieve .-the ;> market," and iuduce a firmer tone. The receipts of ; breadfctttfli at Auckland ' daring ,4fee^; - \r eefc -, ; yrotp-, 155 tons wheat and e23L&s6m( flOJpr- ; by -the * Velooidade,' from ,'liyttelton j 52 ton* wheat and 77 tons flonr v pi 'Alice, O»m«ron J } 1,958 bug* wheat and I

400 bags flour, by the c Free-trader,' from Adelaide. Tho 'Camille^was announced to follow the * Free-trader,' "and is expected to have about 259 tons of breadstuff's. The •JRito,' from Sydney, will probably also bring a further shipment. Auckland flout is quoted at the mills at 141. und 15/. It isdifficult to quote Adelaide, a3 a large trade parcel has been offered very low, under what may be termed tho market vajue, whioh ' should not be lesa than that given for Auckland brands. Canterbury wheat is worth 5a per bushel ; Adelaido ia quoted at 6s' 9d. Of borse'-feed, the receipts were — 1,250 bushels barley, 4,624 bushels oats, ex ' Velocidade '; and 2,516 bushels maizo, ex 'Alice Cameron.' Potato oats are worth from 3s 6d to 3a 9d per bushel; Tartarian, 2a 9d to 3s. VVe are glad to notice a marked improvement in tho demand for New Zealand flax. The price has risen for the best qualities to 201. per ton. The small export from Auckland lately has thrown this important industry almost wholly into the hands of Southern preparers, who have bean struggling against greater disadvantages than the Auckland millowners, as Southern flax has invariably been disposed of at lower rates in the English market than Auckland fibre. The total amount shipped by the ' Excelsior' was three tons, and other English vessels have left with nearly as insignificant a quantity. With improved prices the amount sent into market will no doubt be greater, and the export increase in proportion. Messrs. W. G. Harrison and Co. held a' sale at their rooms to-day of the stock of a country storekeeper, comprising groceries, &c. There was a moderate attendance — the bidding not very spirited. The following were the prices realised :— Candles, 4^d per 'lb. ; Bath bricks, Is 6d per dozen ; half-cask vinegar, 14s ; bag of Bath bricks, 2s 6d ; capers, 63 3d per dozen ; ourry powder, 6s ; baking powder, 43 3d ; preserved milk, 4s 3d; hops. 4d per lb.; sago, 2^d per lb. ; pick handles, lOd each ; axe handles, *7d each ; hammer and adze handles, 6deach; keg lard, 3!jd; butter, 3£d to 4d per lb.; vestas, 16a per gross ; Bell and Black's vestas, 63 6d ; nee, 2£d per lb.; iron stretchers, 8s Gd eacb ; colonial brooms, 10s Gd per dozen ; saddles, 22s 6d to 29s each ; butter-coolers plain flat, Is lOd; buttercooleis frosted, 2s Id ; butter coolers round, j Is ',d to Is 4tl ; butter-coolers fluted, 13 3d to Is 7d ; cruet bottles, 7d eacb ; sugar basins and cream jugs, Is Id, Is 6d, to 2s; small basins and cream jugs, Is 2d each; buttercoolers with plates, Is 3d each ; ale glasses, 33 6d per dozen ; water bottles, Is 3d to Is lOd j decanters .(quart and pints), 3s Gd, 4s 9d, and 6a 3d ' each ; kerosine lamps, 3s ; spirit lamps, 7s. Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co. held a trade sale of wines, spirits, &0., at their stores to-day. The bidding was very dull, and the following are the prices realised :— Australian wine (Rushling), 7a per dozen, in bond ; Australian wine (Madeira), 6s per dozen, in bond ; Australian wine (Chateau la Rose), Ss per dozen, in bond (with all faults). Pale brandy, 4s per gallon ; dark brandy, 2s Gd per gallon ; pale sherry, 2s 6d per gallon ; port wine, 2s 6d per gallon ; champagne (Carte Blanche), 26s per dozen, in bond; AValker and Co.'s ginger wine, 15s pei dozen, duty-paiil ; Bernard's ginger wine, 10a per dozen, duty-paid ; MarteH's brandy, 7s 3d per gallon ; Swiss cigars, 15s per 1,000 ; Havanas (Tip-tops), 40s, ia boud. Messrs. C. Arthur and Son held a sale at their mart to-day of the following cargo of fruit, ex ' Alice Cameron, 1 consisting of 301 Ctises— all sold. There was an excellent attendance, and very good prices weie obtained :— Apples, 2'd to 2|d per lb.; oranges,B3 9ilto 10s 3d; naval oranges, 12s Gd; lemons, 7s Gd to 8s Gd. The mining plant, battery, buildings, &c, of the Wild Missouri Goldmining Company (registered), also sold, realised £50.

COLONIAL PRODUCE.